A California jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the trial of Jeffrey Ferguson, who was accused of intentionally killing his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, during a heated argument. The incident occurred on August 3, 2023, in their Anaheim home. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter declared a mistrial after jurors deliberated for eight days but remained divided 11 to 1 in favor of convicting Ferguson on second-degree murder charges.
Prosecutors charged that Jeffrey Ferguson, a former judge, shot his wife after losing his temper while intoxicated. During the trial, Ferguson admitted to shooting Sheryl but claimed it was accidental. He testified that he was placing his gun on a coffee table at her request when a sudden pain in his arm caused him to discharge the weapon accidentally. The couple's son reported the shooting to authorities, leading to Ferguson's arrest that same night.
Ferguson's blood alcohol level at the time was allegedly twice the legal limit, a factor that prosecutors argued contributed to his intentional act. They contended that the argument stemmed from a dispute over money sent to Ferguson's son from a previous marriage. Despite these allegations, Ferguson maintained that the shooting was unintentional.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed readiness to retry the case, with potential start dates of April 7 or May 19. He stated that the evidence overwhelmingly pointed to Ferguson's intent to kill his wife, despite the jury's split decision.
"Eleven to one is a success in the world in which we operate." – Todd Spitzer
Larry Rosen, Sheryl Ferguson's youngest brother, expressed mixed feelings about the trial's outcome. While temporarily satisfied with the results, he publicly voiced his disbelief in Jeffrey Ferguson's guilt.
"I personally, on behalf of the family, would like to share that all of us do not believe that Jeff Ferguson committed murder." – Larry Rosen
Ferguson's attorney, Cameron Talley, remains hopeful for a resolution without a full retrial. Talley is considering negotiating an agreement with prosecutors, considering Ferguson's age and the support he has received from Sheryl Ferguson's family.
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